New Whistler Insider Editor Tells All

My name is Feet Banks and since this is The Whistler Insider I suppose I ought to start off with a secret—the last time I had a job interview it was for the lofty position of busboy.

This was back in 1994 at Sushi Village, Whistler’s original sushi joint. I was 18 years old, just weeks out of high school, and looking for a career that would allow me to ski all day and eat free food. The interview for that busboy position involved little more than carrying a fifteen-pound tray of dishes across a room without breaking any sake cups. I got the job.

And now I have a new one, as editor-in-chief of The Whistler Insider. The hiring process was a bit more involved this time around but I didn’t break anything and now you and I get to romp around Whistler together digging up all the great stuff that may not receive the attention it deserves. Our mission here is to find the fun you’ve never heard of because this town, first and foremost, is about having fun. It’s what brought almost all of us here in the first place and it’s what keeps things running smoothly. If you’re in Whistler and you’re not having fun… you might be doing something wrong.

Luckily, we’re here to help. The Whistler Insider has a highly efficient team of locals ready to dish up the good times—whether it’s taking your kids skating on historic Alta Lake or getting to that untracked patch of powder you see from the chairlift. Looking for a romantic sunset picnic spot? Or what local dance floors will be hopping on what nights? We’ve got you covered. From free film screenings to the best place to take your grandmother for tea to that hidden art gallery in the industrial park The Whistler Insider is your source for real, hands-on, true mountain awesomeness and I’m here to lead the way. I was fortunate enough to have grown up in Whistler and it’s intrinsically a part of who I am. The snow, the mountains, the lakes, the sparkling people who make me laugh, the food, the fun, the freedom—Whistler is my home, always will be.

Of course, the question remains—did somebody just hire a busboy as editor-in-chief of The Whistler Insider? The answer is no, that busboy gig was short-lived. I soon moved up to waiter and paid my way through writing school at the University of Victoria. Then I made a ski film, hammered out a freelance journalism career, ran a start-up magazine, made some more films, shoveled a lot of snow and spent as much time enjoying life as possible. There were no job interviews along the way because everything just seemed to slide into place when it needed to. Whistler is funny like that—you pick a line, you ride it out, and it’s surprising all the great stuff that happens along the way.

That’s what I hope we can do with The Whistler Insider—whether you’re here for a week or a month or a day or a lifetime, let’s help you find some of that great stuff along the way.